Locomotive sander



Nov. 9, 1926. 1,606,465

w. A. CURLEY ET AL LOCOMOTIVE SANDER Filed July 19. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Nov. 9 ,1926. 1,606,465

W. A- CURLEY ET AL LOCOMOTIVE SANDER Filed July'19, 1926 2 Sheet's-Shet2.

Patented Nov. 9, 1926.

UMTE E TA ES l,6d6,465 rarest WILLIAM A CUBLEY, nar ow S ar ss N BQJ 'O-Le BEA ME F Q AR BLUFF, MrssoUnI. i

LOCOMOTIVE SANDER.

Application filed July 19, 1926. Serial No. 123,35.

This invention is a novel improvement in locomotive sanding devices andthe principal object of the invention is to provide a pair of noveldevices adapted to beconnected with the two side outlets of the usualsand dome of a locomotive at each side of the locomotive, and eachdevice having plurality of sand leads, operated by individual airnozzles, connected therewith, the leads respectively conducting the sandto the track aldjacent'one of the driving wheels of the locomotive.

Another object of the device is to provide a pair of novel sand columns,adapted when attached to the sand dome, to fit closely to the side ofthe boilercasing of the locomotive and to lie substantially tangentthereto, whereby the heat of radiation from the boiler oi' thelocomotive will always main- 29 tain the sand in a dry state in the sandcolumns and sand leads, and thus prevent (raking of the sand within thesand columns and leads. n still further object is to pro vide a sandcolumn having a relatively large opening at itstop registering with theopening in the bottom portion or the sand dome of the locomotive,whereby the sand from the dome will fall freely into the sand column andmaintain the latter filled with sand. A still further object is toprovide a sand column having a flange at its upper end disposed at anangle to the axis of the column, so that when the flange is bolted totheside oi the sand dome, the column will lie substantially tangent tothe boiler casing of the locomotive.

lVe will explain the invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings which illustrate one practical embodiment thereof to enableothers familiar with the art to adopt and use the same and willsummarize in the'claims the novel features of construction, and novelcombinations or" parts, for which protection is desiredi Insaiddrawings:

Fig. l 'is a transverse sectional view through a locomotive boileradjacent the sand dome showing our improved sanding devices and pipingconnected therewith.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of a locomotive showing ournovel sand column and air piping connected with the sand dome.

Fig. 3 isan enlarged longitudinal detail section through the device.

Fig. at is a longitudinal section on the linedl,Fig. l v

Fig. 5 is a-transverse section on the line 5-5,'Fig. 3. i l

As shown in drawings, the sanding device preferably comprises a tubularsand column 1, preferably a casting of suitable length and'diameter, thelower end or" the sand column 1, being internally threadedjas at l toreceive a removable plug 2,*a dap'ted to be screwed into the lower endof the column'l, whereby the plug may be removed to permit access to theinterior of the column. The upper end of sand column 1 is provided witha flange 1* preferably formed-integral with the column 1 and disposedatan angle to the longitudinal axis of the column 1,"the angle preferablybeing about 3O ,'whereby when the flange is bolted to the sand aomenwith the opening in the top of the sand column registeringwith theoutlet'in the bottom of the sand dome, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, thesand column 1 will lie substantially tangent to the boiler casing otthelocomotive, whereby the heat of radiationol' the boiler will alwaysmaintain "the sand within the column in a dry state. The flange 1 isperforated, as sliown to receive the bolts .or other means forlasten-ing the flange to sand dome D.

Extendng substantially radially sand column 1, are a plurality'of sandile ads 3, 61- and'y5.said leadsalllying preferably in'the same plane,but having their longitudinal axes slanting slightly upwardly to fromward the inlet orupper end of the sand column 1, as shown Figs. 2 and 3to preventthe sand from normally 'discharging rrom the sand leadshereinafter described,

by gravitation. The sand leads each'preferably comprise a short lengthof pipe of suitable diameter, having their inneren ds screwedinto outlet,orifices 1 in the side oi the sand coluinnl as shown in thedrawingf'The orifices 1 are substantially spaced 7 equal distancesapart, the upper orificefbeing disposed on the right hand side of thesand column, (Figs. 2 and 3), and the two lower orifices being disposedon the left hand side of the column, as vlewed 1n sald figures.

' At the outer ends of leads 3, 4 ande are heads 3, l" and 5respectively, said head's comprising tubular members screwedonto theouter ends of leads 3, 4 and 5, said respective lead 3, 4'. or 5.

heads having plugs 3, e and 5 in the outer ends respectively, wherebyaccess may be had to the interior of the sand leads 3, at and 5. Heads 3i and 5 are furthermore provided with angularly disposed branches 3, 4and 5 respectively which are preferably internally threaded as shown andadapted to be connected to the sand pipes, 6, 7 and 8 respectively,which discharge sand on the track adjacent the driving wheels of thelocomotive. Branches 3, i and 5 are preferably disposed at angles ofabout 45 to the longitudinal axes of the heads.

in the heads diametrically opposite to and substantially in line withthe sand pipe branches are perforated lugs 3 et and 5 respectively,which are preferably threaded to receive the blowout air pipinghereinafter described, which assists in discharging sand from the sandcolumn and leads down through the pipes 6, 7 and 8 respectively.

Airnozzles are provided for each sand lead 3, t and 5, eachnozzlecomprising a short nozzle 1, extending through the casing 1. at a pointsubstantially tangent to the interior diameter of the sand column and inline with the axis of its respective sand lead 3, 4: or 5, said nozzlehaving its outer end bent into alignment with the aXes of its respectivesand lead, as shown particularly in Fig 5, the nozzle 1 being disposedsubstantially at right angles to the axis of its The casing 1 adjacenteach nozzle 1 is preferably enlarged and provided with an internallythreaded bore 1*, communicating with the nozzle 1 said threaded bore 1being adapted to receive the usual air plug 1 attached to'the end of themain air pipe feeding the nozzle. Each plug 1 is preferably provided onits inner end with a plate 1 having angularly disposed openings 1therein through which the air freely passes to the nozzle 1 whilepreventing sand from passing from the nozzle and back into the airline'past the plate 1.

Asshown in Fig. 2 the blowout lug 41 is directly connected to an airpipe 9 leading from a suitable source of air supply, the

pipe '9 being controlled by a valve preferably operated in the cab ofthe locomotive. Blowout lugs 3 and 5 are both connected to an air pipe10 which is likewisepreferably valved, the valve being operated in thecab of the locomotive, whereby air may be passed through either blowoutpipes 9 or 10 separately or simultaneously, as desired.

The nozzle 1 for the sand lead 4 is connected to a main air pipe 11,controlled by a valve situated in the locomotive cab and operated in thesame manner as the valves controlling air pipes 9 and 10. The airnozzles for sand leads 3 and 5 are both connected to an air pipe 12similarly controlled by a valve in the cab of the locomotive.

The sand pipes 6 and 8 are arranged to discharge sand on the trackimmediately in front of the two front driving wheels of the locomotive,while the sand pipe 7 is arranged to discharge sand on the trackimmediately in the rear of the rear driving wheel of the locomotive.Hence, when it is desired to sand the track when the locomotive ismoving, or about to move, in the forward direction the valve passing airthrough air pipe 12 to the nozzles of sand leads 3 and 5 alone would beoperated. If desired to sand the track when ihe locomotive is moving, orabout to move, in the reverse direction, the valve passing air throughair pipe 11 to the nozzle of sand lead a alone would be operated, thenozzles for sand leads 8 and 5 being arranged to operate simultaneously,and the nozzle for sand lead t being arranged to operate independentlyof the nozzles for leads 3 and 5.

f sand should become caked or clogged in the heads 3 and 5 the valve ofpipe 10 may be opened permitting a blast of air to blow out and clearthe heads 3 and 5. Similarly if head t should become caked or cloggedwith wet sand, then the valve of pipe 9 may be opened admitting a blastof air through lug P to clean out the head et If desired the valves ofpipes 10 and 12 or 9 and 11 may be opened simultaneously to produce amax imum air blast not only in the column 1 but in the heads of the sandleads.

By placing the column 1 in the position shown in the drawing, the heatradiating from the boiler casing will maintain the sand in the columnsdry and hot at all times, and thus prevent or largely eliminate cakingof the sand in the columns or leads.

While we have shown three sand leads extending from each sand column,any number of leads may be applied thereto according to the requirementsof the particular locomotive. The large opening in the top of the columnregistering with the opening in the lower portion of the sand dome willpermit the sand column to be filled with sand from the dome at alltimes.

We do not limit our invention to the exact form shown in the drawingsfor obviously changes may be made therein within the scope of theclaims.

We claim:

1. A sander for a locomotive having a sand dome; comprising a casingprovided with a plurality of sand outlet orifices; sand leads connectedwith said orifices and having their axes slanting slightly upwardly; airnozzles extending into the casing opposite said outlet orifices; andsaid casing having a coupling flange at its upper end lying in a planeat an angle to the longitudinal axis of the casing, whereby when thecasing is attached to the sand dome of a locomotive the casing Will liesubstantially tangent to the locomotive boiler casing.

2. In a sander as set forth in claim 1, one set of sand leadsdischarging in front of the locomotive driving Wheels and the other setdischarging in rear of the driving Wheels; and piping connecting eachset of nozzles to operate each set independently of the other.

3. A sander for a locomotive having a sand dome; comprising a tubularcasing provided with a plurality of sand outlet orifices, sand leadsconnected with said orifices and having their axes slanting slightlyupwardly; air nozzles extending into the casing at right angles to andopposite each outlet orifice; and said casing having a coupling flangeat its upper end lying in a plane at an angle to the longitudinal axisof the casing whereby when the casing is attached to the sand dome of alocomotive the casing Will lie substantially tangent to the locomotiveboiler casing.

4. In a sander as set forth in claim 3, one set of sand leadsdischarging in front of the locomotive driving Wheels and the other setdischarging in rear of the driving Wheels; and valved piping connectingeach set of nozzles to operate each set independently of the other.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own We afliX oursignatures.

WILLIAM A. "CURLEY. CLIFFORD SEAGER. ANDREW C. LA BEAUME.

